Gavin McAteer drafted into Republic of Ireland U17 squad

Gavin McAteer will miss Finn Harps’ opening game of the 2025 season having been called into the Republic of Ireland U17 squad.

The Milford teenager has been called up by Irish manager Colin O’Brien as part of a 22-player squad for a trip to Spain.

Ireland face Finland on Wednesday and Hungary on Saturday with both games taking place in Oliva Nova near Valencia.

This represents McAteer’s first call-up to an Ireland squad and it means he will be absent when Harps face Kerry FC at Mounthawk Park on Friday.

Last season, McAteer played 16 first team games for Harps having been elevated by manager Darren Murphy.

His rapid rise saw him go on trial to Nottingham Forest, alongside Harps team-mate Oisin Cooney, towards the end of 2024.

When McAteer played against Kerry last May, he became the youngest ever player to compete in a league fixture for the club. 

Marty Kelly, Donegal Town, another 15-year-old, still holds the record as the youngest to ever play for the club in a competitive fixture when he lined out back in the 1970s. Kelly was 15 years and 137 days when he debuted while McAteer was 15 and 327 days. 

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This week’s games in Spain will serve as preparation for the Under-17s EURO Qualifiers due to take place in Poland next month. O’Brien’s team were drawn in Group A6 against hosts Poland, as well as Iceland and Belgium with the team finishing top earning a place at the finals in Albania.